Ontario
A trip to Ontario often pairs Toronto and Niagara Falls with Ottawa, the national capital, and river and lake towns farther east.
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Ontario is a province in eastern Canada, on the Great Lakes and the US border. Toronto, the provincial capital and Canada's largest city, is where many first trips begin. Ottawa, the national capital, sits on the Ottawa River near the Quebec border. Niagara Falls lies on the Niagara River, which links Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario past the Thousand Islands and Kingston.
The province suits a first trip that mixes big cities with water and parks: museums and restaurants in Toronto, the falls and the wine country of the Niagara Peninsula, and quieter river towns in the east. Summer is the best season for lakes, boat trips and outdoor time. Late September and October bring fall color. Winter is cold. A week lets you see Toronto, Niagara Falls and Ottawa at a steady pace. The eastern river towns need more time.
Ontario in five
- Get an eTA before you fly inMost visa-exempt visitors who arrive by air need an eTA, applied for online before the flight. US citizens do not need one.Visas and entry
- Pick Toronto or Ottawa as your baseToronto to Ottawa is about 4.5 hours by car, so choose one city as the base and treat the other as a separate trip. Toronto Pearson is the main international airport.Toronto
- Rent a car for the Thousand IslandsBoat tours and villages around Gananoque are spread out. Kingston is an easy train trip from Toronto without a car.Thousand Islands
- Carry a card and some Canadian dollarsTap-to-pay cards work in most city shops and restaurants, but small stalls and some rural shops prefer cash. Tip 15 to 20 percent at restaurants.Money and costs
- Set up an eSIM or offline mapsSignal can be patchy on rural roads and island crossings, so download maps before you leave.Phones and eSIM
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Ontario, the full guide
Niagara Falls
- Price band: $$
Kingston
- Price band: $$
Toronto
Canada's largest city, on Lake Ontario: ethnic neighborhoods from Chinatown to Kensington Market, museums, a ferry to the Toronto Islands, and Niagara Falls as a day trip.
Ottawa
Ottawa is Canada's capital. Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and the national museums are close enough to walk between in two or three days.
Things to do in Ontario
See all attractions in Ontario
Need to know
- Currency
- Canadian dollar (CAD)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; eTA by air for most visa-exempt visitors Read more
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- 15 to 20% at restaurants and bars; round up for taxis
- Time
- UTC-5 Eastern, UTC-4 in summer
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow
- FebruaryWinterlude, cold
- MarchThaw, grey
- AprilEarly spring
- MayGreen, long days
- JuneWarm, long days
- JulyHot, busy
- AugustHot, lake season
- SeptemberWarm, quieter
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCold, grey
- DecemberCold, holidays
Right now in Ontario
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 40%
Ontario
05:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°11°40%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Tue14°11°90%Tuesday: Rain. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Wed15°10°91%Wednesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Thu12°0°91%Thursday: Snow. High 12°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 91%.
- Fri0°-3°63%Friday: Snow. High 0°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Sat2°-3°6%Saturday: Cloudy. High 2°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sun2°-4°10%Sunday: Fog. High 2°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 03:47 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Niagara Fallsabout 1.5 hours by car from TorontoThe falls, the gorge and the river parkway, in one day from downtown Toronto.Read the guide
- Kingstonabout 2.5 hours by car from TorontoFort Henry, the harbor and the southern end of the Rideau Canal.Read the guide
- Thousand Islandsabout 3 hours by car from TorontoBoat tours from Gananoque through the islands of the St. Lawrence.Read the guide
Before you go to Ontario
Rules for Ontario, checked
- Crossing into the United States at Niagara Falls needs a passport or another document that meets US land-border rules; check the current list before you go.Source
- Highway 407 near Toronto uses electronic tolls only; rental cars pass the tolls on, often with an admin fee, so ask the rental company how it bills them.Source
- Declare goods on arrival; the Canada Border Services Agency sets limits on the alcohol and tobacco you bring in.
All Ontario guides
How toRideau Canal Skateway and Winterlude: planning an Ottawa winter tripWhere to stayWhere to stay in Ottawa: downtown, ByWard Market or Gatineau
Where to stayWhere to stay in Niagara Falls: four bases from Fallsview to the LakeItineraryOttawa in 2 days: Parliament Hill, the canal and the Museum of HistoryItineraryNiagara Falls in one day: a timed route from the brink to fireworksHead to headNiagara Falls day trip from Toronto: train, tour or overnight?Plan around Ontario
CN Tower, the Distillery District and ferries to the islands
Read the guideOttawaParliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and museums in the capital
Read the guideNiagara FallsThe falls, the gorge and the Niagara Parkway along the river
Read the guideThousand IslandsBoat tours from Gananoque and the St. Lawrence river
Read the guideKingstonFort Henry and the harbor at the end of the Rideau Canal
Read the guideGetting around OntarioTrains, buses and rental cars between the five areas
Read the guideOntario FAQ
Which Ontario city should I visit first?
Toronto for the big city and the main international airport. Add Ottawa for the capital, or Niagara Falls for the falls, depending on how many days you have.
Do you need a car in Ontario?
Not for Toronto, Ottawa or Kingston, which are linked by train. A car helps for the Thousand Islands, where boat tours and villages are spread out.
How many days do you need in Ontario?
Four to five days for Toronto and a day trip to Niagara Falls. Add two days for Ottawa and one for Kingston.
When is the best time to visit Ontario?
June, September and October for mild weather. Autumn color peaks in late September and October, while winter is cold, with snow from December.
Can you visit Niagara Falls from Toronto in one day?
Yes. It is about 1.5 hours by car from Toronto, and buses and organized tours run from downtown.
Do you need to speak French in Ontario?
No. English is the main language across most of Ontario. Ottawa is bilingual, and its Vanier district is French-speaking.